Susan Hyde (Case) Obituary (1934

Pittsford- Susan Hyde died suddenly Saturday, October 19th in her garden while planting bulbs for the spring. Her beloved dog, Fidel, was by her side. At 84, she was full of life; she had played bridge that very morning, and was rehearsing a Halloween skit the day before. She was planning renovations in her Pittsford and Maine homes, and had enjoyed a wonderful visit with her son, Robert, less than a week before. Susan engaged life fully. Her laugh, gracious greetings and deep interest in people and in life warmed every room she entered. She brought her infectious spirit to all of her activities. She was a beloved docent at the Memorial Art Gallery for much of her adult life, where children and adults alike benefitted from her passion for art and its insights. She was an active participant at the Chatterbox and the Century Club as well as many garden clubs and church choirs. Susan was independent and determined. Good natured but fiercely competitive, she loved Scrabble, bridge, and any sport while she was able. She walked her dog religiously, two to three times per day. Throughout her life, she kept a whirlwind schedule, even recently while recovering from two hip replacement surgeries. She always had a keen and discerning eye on the news. As a proud graduate of Vassar, she had great intellectual curiosity and subsequently took courses in genetics and art history, went to lectures, and was an avid reader. Susan was a devoted gardener and flower arranger, an adventurous gourmet cook and welcoming hostess. She loved music, art, gardening, and animated political discussions. She created beautiful and inviting homes in Philadelphia, Scottsville, Kittery, ME and finally Pittsford that were filled with paintings, flowers and delicious aromas from her kitchen. Decorating was the final gloss but she also did the hard work of renovating--she demolished walls, plastered, sanded and painted her homes, transforming them from neglected and rustic to gracious and welcoming. She built a stone terrace single handedly from rocks she discovered fallen from field-side walls. On long family trips, she often had to push her broken down car while a child steered. She was skilled in many creative arts designing and hooking rugs, needle pointing, upholstering and knitting. She shared a spirit of adventure with her husband Richard--together they sailed, skied, swam, took white water kayak-camping trips with her family and dogs, and toured Lake Ontario and Europe on a tandem bicycle. She raised generations of adored Labrador puppies. She was the mother to four independently-minded children who she raised to respect and care for other people, embody social responsibility and to have a healthy skepticism of rules. Her children engage in art, music, writing, poetry, physics and the trades instilled by her early enthusiasm and unwavering support. Susan was born in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1934 to Elizabeth Wylie Case and James Herbert Case. She and her sisters, Betsy Case Mills and Penelope Case Davis, grew up in a number of locations as her father served in the navy at different colleges, finally settling as president of Bard College. A devoted wife to Dr. Richard Hyde (1929-2014) for fifty-seven years, a deeply appreciative and loving mother to James, Theodore, Penelope, Robert, her daughters-in-law, Liz and Katherine, and her son-in-law, Fred, she also adored her six grandchildren, Nina, Louis, Maxwell, Silas, Isaac and Ryan as well as seven nieces and nephews and many grand nieces and nephews. She will be profoundly missed. HER MEMORIAL SERVICE HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE CHATTERBOX 25 Goodman Street North in ROCHESTER. The Service will be held Saturday, November 9, 2019. FROM 2:00 to 4:00 PM Please email the family for details at penelope.levine@gmail.com. In Lieu of Flowers Donations may be made to The Memorial Art Gallery's Tribute Fund, 500 University Ave. Rochester N.Y. 14607. Arrangements completed J.H. Cameron Funeral Home, 26 Rochester St. Scottsville N.Y. 14546